Two Sundays have passed since a six-year-old mare named Profound Beauty won a listed race in Ireland called the Saval Beg Stakes. Most racing fans haven’t heard of 2,800-meter race, but followers the Melbourne Cup know it very, very well. That might be because the only two horses from Europe ever to win the world’s most prestigious two-miler – Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002 – both won the Saval Beg.
Principal photography on The Cup commences on Monday, an event long in the works, according to the film’s director, Simon Wincer, who is shown at left with actors Daniel MacPherson, Stephen Curry, and Harli Ammes at Lindsay Park stables.
The Master of Rosewell House claimed his twelfth Irish Classic at the Curragh this weekend as Bethrah fought tooth and nail down the straight to win the Irish 1000 Guineas carrying the colors of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Bethrah was far from favored – the filly went off at 16/1 odds – and her winning margin eclipsed the efforts of four other contenders who bunched together just a half-length back. Credit Pat Smullen, whose brilliant tactics netted Weld’s stable jockey his seventh Irish Classic. But all credit is due to Bethrah. Said Weld of his runner, “She is tough and genuine.”
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has committed to star as Ireland’s winningest trainer, Dermot Weld, in The Cup, which goes into production later this month in Australia with Simon Wincer to direct. Weld enjoys the unique distinction of being the only international trainer to have twice won the Melbourne Cup: in 1993 with Vintage Crop and in 2002 with Media Puzzle. It is the latter victory that plays an integral part in the development of the film.
Some racing fans follow a horse – think Zenyatta, Makybe Diva, or Sea the Stars. For others, the trainers is what matters – a Bob Baffert, Bart Cummings, or Dermot Weld. Here in America, however, an increasing number of Kentucky Derby fans, the fastest two minutes in sports is a wholly-owned subsidiary of one Calvin Borel, who won the 136th running of the mile-and-a-quarter Classic this afternoon for the third time in four years.
Some of the most important casting decisions for The Cup have already been made and the papers signed. Director Simon Wincer has personally overseen the acquisition of more than two dozen Thoroughbreds, each of whom is now being schooled in the intricacies of the moviemaking art.
Emmy Award-winning director Simon Wincer confirms that principal photography for The Cup will commence in Australia on May 31. The veteran filmmaker who has crafted classics such as The Man From Snowy River, Lonesome Dove, and Free Willy has already completed second unit photography for The Cup at two key venues: The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, site of Dermot Weld’s training center; and Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, home of the Melbourne Cup, the world’s most prestigious two-mile handicap.
It’s official – the Cup is going on tour and hitting the road in preparation for the 150th running of the world’s greatest two-miler. Damien Oliver and a host of other racing legends farewelled the $150,000 trophy from Flemington Racecourse this morning.
The great Doriemus, a champion stayer who won the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double in 1995 with Damien Oliver up, was rushed into surgery last week and narrowly survived a life-threatening bout of colic. The emergency surgery was performed at the Werribee veterinarian clinic.
High drama as Brazilian-bred Gloria de Campeao ushered in a new chapter in Thoroughbred racing by claiming the world’s richest race in a thrilling finish at Dubai’s new Meydan Racecourse.
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